The Swish basketball team at Nyayo Stadium/ HANDOUTStanbic Aces head coach Maurice Obilo praised his side’s composure in key moments after they edged past The Swish BC 54–50 in a tightly contested Kenya Women’s Basketball Premier League match at Nyayo Gymnasium on Friday.
The result keeps the Aces firmly in second place, while Swish remain sixth.
The contest began at a high tempo, with both sides trading baskets in a lively opening quarter. Swish leaned on the aggressive drives of Lavender Opondo, while Stanbic responded through the composed mid-range shooting of Morine Nyanganyi. The teams were deadlocked at 23–23 at the end of the first period.
Stanbic began to assert control in the second quarter, stretching the floor and capitalising on scoring opportunities. Emily Bosibori found rhythm from range, while Nyanganyi maintained consistency inside. The Aces outscored Swish 25–14 in the period, opening a 38–33 halftime cushion as missed chances continued to hurt the visitors.
“We knew it would be a tough game because Swish are very physical and disciplined, but I’m proud of how the girls responded, especially in the second quarter where we executed our game plan well,” Obilo said. He added that their shot selection and defensive organisation made the difference heading into the break.
The third quarter saw both sides dig in defensively, possession by possession. Swish showed resilience to stay within touching distance even as Stanbic protected their lead at 50–44, the game remaining finely balanced with neither side able to dominate.
In the closing quarter, Swish mounted a late surge, outscoring the Aces 12–10. Maker Deng contributed crucial points, while Opondo continued to drive the offence, but Stanbic’s calm execution under pressure ultimately sealed the narrow victory.
“We lost a bit of control towards the end, but what stood out is the maturity in how we closed the game,” Obilo noted. He emphasised that managing tight finishes will be key as the season progresses. “These are the kind of matches that build character and confidence for the team.”
The result lifts Stanbic Aces to three wins from four matches, consolidating second place behind Equity Hawks. Swish remain sixth with two wins from three outings, showing promise but still searching for consistency.
Bosibori led the Aces with 13 points and four rebounds, while Nyanganyi added 12 points and six boards. For Swish, Opondo posted eight points, four rebounds, and three assists, with Deng contributing five points and three rebounds in the narrow loss.
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